Kasich's opening statements painted a picture of an ambitious son of a mailman's rise to success, citing anecdotes about his college years, including one in which he met with President Nixon as a freshman. He continued on to give advice to students, lecturing on lack of spirituality and drug usage. "I know I'm going to sound like your dad, but don't mess around with the drugs," Kasich said.

While the lectures were condescending, the real issue was that Kasich chose not to listen to students in his forum. Most of the questions came from older members of the community, many vocalizing their support of Kasich before throwing him a softball question. Kasich barreled through a Planned Parenthood question, dismissing the young woman who posed it, and derided me when I had the audacity to raise my hand. Kasich came to Richmond to pander to retired Republicans. He could gain points by belittling me and my peers, so that's what he did.

What continues to strike me is the hypocrisy of his condescension. He touted his ambitious energy as an 18-year-old man, but as soon as I, an 18-year-old woman, exhibited ambition, I became the target of his joke. The same passion that drove Kasich to speak with President Nixon drove me to ask the candidate a question I care deeply about. In a way, I was taking the governor's advice: "Always ask."

In a half-hearted attempt to connect with young voters, Kasich entered the town hall forum with the 2014 hit song "Shut Up and Dance With Me" blasting from the speakers. While my friends all found it out of place, I realized that the song's title accurately reflects Kasich's message to young voters: shut up and elect me. If the candidate wants to connect with my peers, he can't do it through superficial pop culture references. If he wants our votes, he needs to listen to our voices and address the issues we care about. The president leads the country, not the VMAs, and it's insulting that the governor doesn't think we can distinguish between the two.

I didn't go to a town hall forum for Taylor Swift tickets, Gov. Kasich. I went because it's my civic duty to be an informed voter. Please start treating me like one.